Written by Tyler Kuehl
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The women's hockey team took to the ice for a tough test Saturday night. Their opponents were the Spartans from Michigan State, who were the number five team in the country. Davenport has only beaten the Spartans once in their history, and were already beaten by MSU 11-1 back on Nov. 10.
The game played out unlike what many would have imagined. The Spartans put an enormous amount of pucks on the Davenport net, but
Julia Gaynor was outstanding for the Panthers. Her play kept the team motivated throughout the contest, and two power play goals kept the game close. Despite the valiant effort, the Spartans still came away the victory.
QUICK STATS
Final Score: Davenport 2 – Michigan State 4
Shots: DU 19 | MSU 68
Power Play: DU (2/5) | MSU (1/4)
Records: DU (3-7-1, 0-3) | MSU (9-1, 8-0)
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Gaynor ended up making 64 saves in the effort against the Spartans, including a few masterful glove saves that left the Spartans with their heads to the Heavens.
Courtney Mulligan and
Morgan Pippin were the goal scorers for DU, and both are tied for the team lead in points with six.
HANGING IN THERE
The Spartans came out flying in the first period, and scored in the first minute of the game as Katie Krumm beat Gaynor for her first goal of the season, and the Spartans looked to be off and running.
It looked like it was going to be a long night for the Panthers, but Gaynor kept DU in the game. Later in the period, DU would get a power play. Coach
Matt Sekosan took a timeout to allow his top guns an opportunity to prepare of the man advantage. It ended up paying off, as after a scramble off the faceoff,
Morgan Pippin would score her third goal of the season to tie the game at one.
SPARTY ON THE ATTACK
In the second period, Michigan State really ramped up their offensive attack, looking for the lead. They ended up taking 30 shots in the middle stanza, and despite some amazing saves by Gaynor, the Spartans were rewarded. Natalia Asimakis scored just over the six minute mark to put the Spartans back in the lead. Julia Lutz's 16
th goal of the season extended MSU's lead to two.
COMPETE TO THE END
Davenport would get another power play towards the end of the period, and just as they did in the first period, they would take advantage of the opportunity.
Courtney Mulligan beat MSU's Hannah Bigelow to bring the Panthers back within one.
In the third period, the Spartans would put the game away with Asimakis' second of the game, and Michigan State would take home the 4-2 win.
WHO'S NEXT?
Davenport takes a week off for Thanksgiving before another tough test against another top-5 team. Their opponents will be the Adrian Bulldogs, currently the number five team in the country. The Bulldogs are 7-3 this season, and 4-0 in CCWHA play after sweeping Grand Valley State this weekend. The Panthers are 1-11 all-time versus the Bulldogs, with their lone win coming back in the 2014-15 season.
The first game of the weekend set will be on Friday Dec. 6. Puck drop at the Arrington Ice Arena in Adrian is set for 3 p.m.
